Straw-dispenser.



H. L. BEACH.

STRAW DISPENSER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 1.111,6, 1911 1,021,232. Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lNvENToR WITNESSES ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANDEIRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D.' C.

H. L. BEACH.

STRAW DISPENSER.

1,021,232. 19 Patented Mar.26,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES W m l COLUMD A PLNOUIIPH CD WASHINGTON D C HARRY L. BEACH, or cosHoc'roN, oHIo.

STRAW-IDISPENSER.

Application filed January 6, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Serial No. 601,231.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY L. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coshocton, in the county of Coshocton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Straw-Dispenser, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in dispensing apparatus and is designed more particularly for the dispensing of the so-called straws used at soda fountains and other like places where drinks are served.

In accordance with the present invention the straws are lodged in a tight receptacle so far as the access of dust is concerned, and t-he straws are only accessible to customers one at a time, and then only on the performance of a certain operation, causing the delivery of the straws as needed, the main supply remaining within the receptacle out of reach of contaminating influences, whereby the straws are kept in a clean, fresh condition without liability of contamination and without any chance of offending the sensibilities of the customers.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that while the drawings show a practical embodiment of the invention, it is susceptible to various changes and modifications without, however, any material departure from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings z-Figure l is a longitudinal central vertical section of the straw dispensing apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing hopper and straw catching hangers below the same. Fig. 4 is a section similar to the lower portion of Fig. 2, but showing a different operative position of the parts.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a body portion 1, indicated as of general rectangular shape in cross section, although the particular shape of the body member is not material to the present invention. This body member in the structure shown in the drawings is made up of side and end members formed with numerous interlocking lips 2 at the meeting edges, whereby the side and end members are joined firmly together to inclose a space designed to receive the articles to be dispensed. The body member 1 is provided with a cover 3 and the ends are extended to form legs 4 serving to uphold the body member in spaced relation to any suitable support, so that the lower edges of the side members are spaced from the support, considering the support as level and the device as being upheld by the legs 4.

In the followin description reference to position will be ad with relation to the operative structure as supported for dispensing purposes, the partlcular commodity under consideration being the so called straws, of which a few are indicated at 5 in Fig. 4, such straws being commonly parafned paper tubes of small caliber and of sufficient length to reach from the mouth of the user to the bottom of a glass containing the liquid being drawn through the straw.

The main portion of the body 1 constitutes the container for the straws and the bottom of this container is composed of two angularly disposed strips 6, preferably of wood with the more distant edges adjacent the sides of the body member and the other edges approaching toward the center line of the body member. These two strips are connected by end pieces 7 preferably of metal and of substantially triangular configuration, the long side of the triangles extending from the upper edge of one strip to the upper edge of the other. The lower edges of the strips 6 stop short of the center line to leave a space 8 and at a point slightly above the angle formed by a projection of the upper surfaces of the strips 6 toward the center line there is provided a shaft 9 having bearings in both end pieces 7 and of a length to extend beyond the outer faces of these end pieces 7, the projecting ends, indicated at 10, being flattened and widened.

The length'of the strips 6 with the thickness of the end pieces 7 added thereto is such as to cause the hopper like bottom of the container formed of the strips 6 and end pieces 7 to fit snugly in the container, while the ends 10 of the shaft 9 are carried through the end walls of the body member 1, receiving exterior thereto manipulating knobs 11, there being a knob 11 at each end of the shaft.

Between the end walls 7, the shaft carries a drum 12 provided with a series 0f from by gravity. The space 8 is such thatA the drum 12 will have its surface in close relation to the lower edges of the strips 6, thereby preventing the accidental escape of the straws from the hopper-like bottom ofi the container, but on the turning of the` shaft and with it the drum 12, such drum being purposely made fast to the shaft, the I 13 will be carried successively Q through the lower end of the hopper to each l receive a straw and to carry it out of the' hopper until ultimately the groove no longer i resists the action of gravitation upon the straw, and it falls from the groove, the said grooves grooves being preferably expanded toward the open sides to facilitate the rolling of the straws out of the grooves after the straws have passed from the receptacle.

At each end one of the strips 6 has secured thereto a hanger 14 extending downward close to the 4respective leg V4 and then bent in a direction to underhang the roller 12, the underriding portion 15 of the hanger 14 still having a slight slant downwardly, while the free edge of this portion 14 is bentinto a fiat upstanding bead 16. The two hangers 14 are spaced apart sufficiently to admit of the introduction of the hand or fingers of the customer between the two hangers. The legs 4'are of sufficient lateral extent to cover the corresponding sides of the hangers, so that a straw dropping from the drum 12 will be received upon the ex* tensions 15 of the hangers, and will then roll to the bead 16, further progress of the straw being thereby arrested.

The approaching strips 6 direct all of the straws to the drum 12 and when a customer desires to use a straw, it is only necessary to rotate the drum by means of either of the knobs 11 when a partial rotation of the drum will cause the delivery of a straw which will fall from the drum upon the inclined extensions 15 and roll along the same until it lodges against the beads 16 when a customer may readily grasp the straw intermediate of its length to transfer the straw to the glass and to the customers mouth, and neither end of the straw need be touched by the fingers of the customer, so that any l contaminating matter which may possibly the end of the straw placed in the liquid in the glass.

The outer edges of the strips 6 are beveled as indicated at 17, so that these edges may be in substantially parallel relation to the inner walls of the container, and the hangers 14 with their extensions 15 may be made of sheet metal with the edges overturned, as indicated at 18, for the pur-.

pose of imparting strength and rigidity, but each hanger 14 is formed with an edge portion 19 where attached to the corresponding strip 6 free from the folds 18 and the hangers 14 may be bent toward the front or delivery side of the machine, so that the folds 18 will not interfere with the close setting of the edge portions 19 against the corresponding side wall of the container. By this means the only support for the hopper-like bottom of the container is the shaft 9, this one member coacting with the end and side members of the container to hold the hopper-like bottom portion of the container in place and yet not interfere with the free turning of the shaft and the drum 12 carried thereby.

Vhat is claimed is A dispensing apparatus comprising a container made up of side and end members rigidly connected, the end members being extended to form legs, said container being open at the top and bottom, and provided with a cover for the top, and a hopper-like bottom for the container composed of two angularly disposed strips connected by end plates, the lower edges of the strips terminating short of the center line to leave a space, and a grooved drum fitting in said space, the length of the said strips with the thickness of the end pieces added thereto being` such as to cause said parts to fit snugly in the bottom of the container', a shaft traversing the drum and passing -through and having its ends journaled in the ends of the container, thereby constituting the sole sustaining means for said bottom, the extended ends of the shaft being provided with manipulating means exterior to the end walls of the container, and spaced hangers connected at their upper ends to one of the strips and carried by the same below the drum and between the said legs, the lat-` ter forming end stops for the articles.

In testimony, that I claim t-he foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY L. BEACH.

Witnesses ED Coornn,l W. S. HooTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained .for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

